Vented panel



Sept. 12, 1944. w. w. cAsToR VENTED PANEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1942 AV/Var Mfg/57" Casi-or,

Sapt. 12, 1944. w. w. CASTOR VENTED PANEL Filed June 11, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 atented Sept. 12, 1944 VENTED PANEL Wilbur Wright Castor, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Fuller Label & Box Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 11, 1942, Serial No. 446,678

This invention relates to closures for building wall openings and has particular reference to a vented member intended primarily as a substitute panel for the glass panes customarily inserted in the window sash sections of a building wall.

A broad object of the invention is to reduce insofar as is practically feasible the risk of danger and inconvenience to occupants of buildings located in or near areas in which explosions occur, or are apt to occur. There are many such areas in ordinary times. Among them are localities in which blasting is in progress more or less consistently, those near regular army or navy proving grounds, and manufacturing areas wherein chemicals and explosives are handled as a matter of routine. In times of war, of course, any area regardless of its geographic position with reference to the participants or the primary theatre of war may be so classified.

The effects of concussion and repercussion forces resulting from explosion, whether caused by a bomb or otherwise, are well known. Entire wall sections are blown out by these forces and the danger from flying fragments of shattered glass windows and wall sections is great. This invention contemplates venting a wall section in such manner that the vented portion is normally closed but is capable of yielding substantially instantaneously to defined concussion of minimum force. I propose to accomplish this objective by substituting my improved panel for the glass pane customarily used for closing wall openings. The panel may be transparent or opaque insofar as the broad objective hitherto outlined is concerned. An opaque panel performs the additional function of blacking out the interior light when necessary. Furthermore, as will be apparent, a transparent or translucent panel may be readily opaqued for blackout purposes in any of a number of ways which have given satisfaction of varying degree when used in conjunction with ordinary glass window panes.

Among more specific desiderata of the invention are maintenance for a maximum period of time, with minimum adjustment and repair.

necessitated by damage through bombing of complete obscuration of light from within a building. elimination of the hazard to which building 12 Claims. (Cl. 20-4) ture while at the same time accomplishing the objects noted above. Where substantial parts of a wall are capable of opening to permit dissipation of accumulated pressure, the hazards of wall rupture are greatly diminished and my invention embodies means for permitting such dissipation without in any way impairing its effective functioning for obscuration and protection.

As is commonly known, the threat of bombing raids in this country can no longer be discounted, and considerable time and thought must be given to devising counteracting safety measures. Obscuration, or masking of interior light, may and has been achieved by several means. Paint, adhesive materials, flexible shades or curtains, and rigid screens and glass substitutes each have their peculiar advantages and disadvantages.

Any arrangement which does not function as a substitute for the glass pane itself obviously cannot eliminate the hazard of shattering glass. Taping of glass is unsatisfactory for this reason, regardless of how thoroughly the glass is taped or how good the adhesive. Themost thorough taping results in a substantially permanent blackout condition Without eliminating the hazard of shattering glass plus the increased velocity of glass and wall fragments resulting from increasing bursting strength. Paint is of little value. Protective panels of the ordinary type, whether rigid or flexible, are of little use because when placed inside the glass to obscure interior night and impede shattered glass the glass outside presents a perfect reflecting mirror for the flares usually dropped during bombing raids and thereby substantially nullifies the blackout, and when placed outside there is no protection against glass fragments. So-called shatterproof or wire reinforced glass is not feasible because of the temporary scarcity of metal and the failure of mechanically strong materials to relieve effects of concussions at pressures below that capable of blowing out an entire wall section.

While the panel embodying my invention could be used either outside or inside the usual glass pane, such use is not practical for the reasons set forth above and it is intended as a substitute for the pane itself. The invention is of particular importance in connection with openings in industrial buildings wherein a slight delay necessitated by lack of illumination of the interior may seriously hamper production. Interior illumination from any source would be prohibited after demolition or mutilation of blackout facilities. during a raid. at least until obscuration was once more established. Such delay would be unavoidable even where replacement facilities were available almost immediately, and serious delay would result in the absence of replacement facilities for, even where it was possible to obtain such materials from another source, this would be impossible during a raid, the duration of which is frequently extensive. To reduce the risk of blowing out a building wall, openings therein must be provided for dissipation of the forces created by explosion, but in war time this must be done in such manner as to automatically maintain a complete blackout except during the ventin operation.

The invention seeks to reduce to a minimum all the difficulties hitherto enumerated and in war time to obtain a much greater concussion range than is now possible within which an opening need not be re-blacked-out.

The invention comprises a panel constructed within broad limits in a specified manner and including within the periphery thereof a vent opening which is normally closed by a, door so associated with the panel that it will open in either direction when subjected to a certain minimum force. In other words, the vent door is normally retained positively within the plane of the panel to close the opening and, when blackout conditions prevail, obscure the passage of light therethrough, but will open when subjected to a predetermined minimum pressure resulting from either concussion or the oppositely directed suction following such concussion.

Experiment has developed the fact that a panel having a vent door arranged to open un-.

der pressures varying between seven and 50 pounds per square inch is eminently suited for the intended purpose. Experiment has also developed the information that pressures below 20 pounds per square inch will not blow out an ordinary rigid panel used for closing a wall opening. However, depending on the distance from the wall opening at which the explosion occurs to create the concussion force, the effective pressure will be below or above 20 pounds per square inch. The invention therefore embodies a vent door so associated with the vent opening and retained in closed position by means associated with the panel that a force anywhere between seven and 50 pounds per square inch will open the vent door without blowing out the panel itself.

A very important feature of the invention resides in the particular manner in which the vent door is associated with the panel to close the opening under normal conditions. The panel should be sufficiently light so that the momentum resulting from the speed of opening movement acqu red on subjection to a 50-pound per square inch pressure will not distort the means by which the door is anchored to the panel, which would of course preclude proper closing movement of the door.

It is also important that the vent door be so arranged for movement with reference to the panel that the door itself does not blow out of the panel. Experience has brought to light instances wherein ordinary swinging doors have been blown from their hinges without substantially disturbing the door frame. A vent door intended to perform the desired func ions must substantially obviate this possibility, at least within a given range of pressures. Furthermore. the door should be so proportioned as to area and weight with reference to the strength of the panel with which it is associated and the anchorage by which it is associated therewith that opening movement of the door cannot accumulate a momentum sufficient, when operating against the inertia of the panel itself. to tear the panel or anchorage.

Various other objects and meritorious features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating a plurality of my improved panels substituted for glass panes in a window sash;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of an individual panel embodying my invention and equipped for blackout;

Fig. 3 is a. view similar to Fig. 2 showing the vent doors in open position;

Fig. 4 is a section along line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a section along line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation illustrating a number of vents in a single enlarged and rigidified unit, and

Fig. 7 illustrates a modified arrangement embodying one vent door only.

Referring now to the drawings, the panel In is provided with an opening I2 with which are associated along opposite margins thereof identical vent doors H. The vent doors are associated with the opening in a manner which will be brought out in detail hereinafter and are preferably made of the same material as the panel l0. It will be apparent from further description of the arrangement that use of. the same material for both the panel and the vent doors is not essential but for economical and production reasons such an arrangement is preferable. Hitherto rigid panels with or without permanently open vents have been formed of plywood. The rigidity of such a member is variable but it has been found in most instances a practical protective member for blackout purposes and for impeding the passage of shattering glass.

My invention contemplates the use of material in which some degree of flexibility is inherent. Such flexibility assists materially in absorbing the momentum force created by the vent doors flying open on subjection to a concus'sion or suction pressure and to this extent reduces the likelihood under such circumstances of distorting the panel itself or the anchorage by which the vent doors are secured thereto.

Where opacity need not be considered, or where it need be considered only sporadically, and the primary function of venting alone is the major objective, any of a number of clear plastics such as those generally known as Styrene, Vinylite, or any of the cellulose or acrylic resins will be found satisfactory.

Where opacity is an important factor, fiberboard is a practical material from which to construct both the panel and the doors. The material used should have sufllcient strength when made into a panel to withstand pressure in excess of 50 pounds per square inch without permanent distortion. As a specific example of fiberboard, it has been found that two pieces of point chestnut board adhered together provide sufficient strength and rigidity, while at the same time retaining a slight amount of flexibility, for the intended purpose. It should be understood that the poin factor refersto the caliper of flberboards in thousandths of an inch.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that in the form illustrated an opaque panel may be made of plies l6 and I8 adhered to one another. Each door I4 is hinged along a margin of the panel opening by means of a continuous hinge strip which is flexible as distinguished from pliable and which offers substantial resistance to rupture under tension. A strip of fabric 20 embedded between the plies i6 and it of the panel and similarly embedded between plles 22 and 24 of a vent door constructed in the same manner as the panel has been found eminently satisfactory.

While use of a continuous hinge strip extending along the entire margin of the panel opening about which the door opens is not essential, such continuity provides additional strength and permits the use of lighter materials for the strip. Such lightness of material, together with its flexibility, is an important factor in permitting substantially instantaneous opening of the vent door when subjected to a predetermined minimum pressure.

Riveted as indicated at 26 to each side of the panel at spaced points along the margin to which the vent door is hinged, and removed from the margin itself for reasons hereinafter more c1early brought out, are spring members 28 and 38. These spring members are preferably flat and made of spring metal. Each spring member extends a substantial distance over the vent door beyond its hinge margin and terminates, preferably, in an arcuate flange 32.

It is important to provide a slight clearance space as indicated at 34 along the free. swinging margin of each door. Repeated opening of the vent doors to dissipate the pressures under consideration may have a tendency to stretch the hinge strips 20, and particularly would this be true where a textile or fabric of some sort was used. The clearance 34 permits a slight amount of stretch without bringing the swinging margin of a door sufliciently close to the adjacent margin of another door (Figs. 1-6) or a panel opening (Fig. 7) to impede full closure of the door.

Reference to Fig. will make clear the operation of the arrangement. the vent doors in this figure being illustrated in open position to dissiplate fluid pressure to which they are subjected. It is important to note that spring members 28 and 3!) simply resist opening movement of the vent doors, slidably engaging the surface thereof during opening and closing movement, and at the same time aid the hinge strip in properly positioning them in the panal opening. By reason of the free sliding action the spring member is deformed in a bowing action which reduces the possibility of weakening, rupturing, or distorting the material of the spring member at 01 near the hinge line of the vent doors. Thus the resiliency of the spring member is retained despite varied pressures exerted against the doors and consequent variations in the distance through which the doors move and the force exerted on the spring members.

Aiding also in obtaining and maintaining a constant, continuous, uniform closing and positioning pressure on the doors is the fact that the spring members 28 and 30 are anchored or riveted to the panel itself at a point removed from the margin of the opening and the fact that III further reducing any possibility of distortion or rupture.

The strength of the spring members 28 and 3a is preferably such that they will permit the vent doors wiith which they are associated to open in either direction when a pressure of between seven and pounds per square inch is exerted on the panel. The tension of each spring member is the same, thus rendering it immaterial whether the panel is insertedin lieu of the glass with one or the other face out. It should be further noted that the vent door should not be too wide with reference to the width of the panel because, being hinged on one side only, the door in opening might acquire such momentum as to tear itself away from its hinge. To preclude this possibility, as has been stated, it is also desirable that the vent doors be constructed of relatively lightweight material, the object being to prevent the hinged margin of the door during any possible movement thereof from acquiring such momen tum as would destroy or mutilate its anchorage to the panel or the resilient spring members which tend to normally position the doors within the plane of the panel by reason of their resiliency.

It has been found preferable to provide each vent door with two sets of spring members. one at the upper portion of the vent door and the other at its lower portion, as clearly illustrated in the drawings. Even for blackout purposes it is not essential that the panel or doors be of opaque material, but such material is preferable under these circumstances to eliminate the need for separately opaquing them. A completed blackout panel ready for installation preferably embodies cover sheets 46 and 48 adhered to each side of the panel and over its vent doors. These cover sheets may be composed of blackout or camouflage material or may be painted to perform such function after positioning over the opposite sides of the assembly. The mechanical function performed by such cover sheets is to seal the openings around the margins of the vent doors. If desired, one face only of the panel and doors may be blacked or camouflaged, and the other may carry a light color to aid by reflection interior lighting facilities. If the panel material and doors themselves are not opaque,

the cover sheet may be selected to perform thisi'unction, or even coated to do so. The spring members are positioned after the cover sheets are placed and, for blackout or camouflage purposes, the entire assembly may then be clipped in a solution preferably containing a weatherproofing ingredient.

The completed assembly provides a very inconspicuous, neat appearance of unbroken surface by virtue of the cover sheets. These cover sheets must be of a limited tear strength in order to permit ready ripping thereof around the margins of the'vent doors when the same open on being subjected to concussion or suction pressure. Newsprint has been found eminently successful for this purpose, but any tissue coating of paper or other material should have such strength as will enable it to withstand a Mullen test within one or two pounds per square inch each spring member extends a substantial disof the lowest pressure at which it is desirable to have the paper blow out. While for production purposes it is preferable to have the cover sheet extend over the entire panel assembly, its essential mechanical function could be performed by applying strips thereof over the margins oi the vent doors, thus insuring a complete blackout when desired and sealing against dirt and weather where transparent material is used.

While it is apparent from the foregoing description that my improved panel might be constructed of fiberboard in a number of diflerent ways, the preferred method, and that which I regard as constituting a part of my invention, comprises the steps of first delineating on the face of one ply of the panel the desired vent opening. After that a flexible hinge strip is adhered along that portion of the margin of the opening about which the vent door is to swing. This hinge strip, as stated, may be of cloth or fabric of any sort possessing the desired characteristics, and should be so positioned with reference to the hinge line that it extends substantially equal distances on each side thereof. A second ply or plies is then adhered to that face of the first panel to which the hinge strip has already been adhered, thus firmly embedding the hinge strip between the plies of a multi-ply panel.

The integral multi-ply panel assembly is then cut through along the entire margin of the opening except that portion which has been stripped, and is also cut through on its median line in the event double doors are to be provided. The stripped portion of the assembly is then grooved from opposite sides to the depth of the strip to provide adjacent beveled faces 38 and 38 along the strip-hinged line of joinder between the door and panel. The beveled edges obtained by this grooving operation, as will be apparent, provide clearance for the swingin movement of the doors about the margins of the panel openmg.

Where transparent panels are desired, the construction may comprise transparent laminations associated with one another and with a hinge strip in substantially the same manner and by the same procedure as that described above in connection with a multi-ply fiberboard panel. Where a single lamination is desired the hinge strip may be molded into the interior of th panel during formation of the latter.

In Fig. 6 a somewhat modified arrangement has been illustrated wherein a single panel 40 is provided with a plurality of vent openings of the type hitherto described, each opening being normally closed by vent doors which have been described in detail heretofore. Such an arrangement is particularly adapted for unusually large expanses between sash sections and is preferably rigidified and strengthened to a moderate extent by means of pseudo-sash sections 42 and 44 which may be positioned as illustrated.

Figure 7 illustrates a panel vented by an opening with which is associated a single door, the structure bein precisely the same as that already described. Such unit is adaptable for unusually small pane substitutions. As will be obvious from the description and illustration, these panels are inserted between sash sections of the window to take the place of panes in precisely the same manner in which the panes themselves are positioned.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is believed that various departures therefrom fall within the scope of the invention and for that reason I wish to limit myself only within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an opening and a door normally closing said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said door being so associated with and secured to said panel as to permit substantially in-- stantaneous opening thereof in either direction to permit dissipation of fluid pressure to which the panel may be exposed, and means on said panel engaging said door for automatically closing the same on subsequent reduction of said pressure.

2. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an opening and a door normally closing said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said door being so associated with and secured to said panel as to permit substantially instantaneous opening thereof in either direction to permit dissipation of fluid pressure to which the panel may be exposed, and means on said panel in' operative relation to each side of the door, respectively, engaging said door for automatically closing the same on subsequent reduction of said pressure.

3. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an opening and a door normally closing said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said door being so associated with and secured to said panel as to permit substantially instantaneous opening thereof in either direction to permit dissipation of fluid pressure to which the panel may be exposed, and resilient means carried by said panel engaging said door on each side thereof for yieldingly retaining the door in the plane of the panel.

4. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an opening and a door normally closing said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said door being so associated with and secured to said panel as to permit substantially instantaneous opening thereof in either direction to permit dissipation of fluid pressure to which the panel may be exposed, and resilient means fixedly secured to said panel at a point removed from the margin of the opening engaging said door on each side thereof for yieldingly retaining the door in the plane of the panel.

5. -.A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel, an opening and a door normally closing said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said door being 50 associated with and secured to said panel as to permit substantially instantaneous opening thereof in either direction to permit dissipation of fluid pressure to which the panel may be exposed, and flat spring members fixedly secured, respectively, to opposite sides of the panel at points removed from the margin of the opening, said members slidably engaging the corresponding sides of the door, respectively, to yieldingly retain the door in the p ne 01 the opening.

6. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an opening, a door of light-weight material hingedly secured to a portion of the margin of said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said hinge being continuous along a substantial part of the pivotal margin between door and panel, and resilient mean fixedly secured to said pan a i g opp site sides of the door to yieldingly retain the same within the plane of the opening.

7. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an opening therein, a door of light-weight material hingedly secured to a portion of the margin of said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said hinge being flexible, nonresilient and continuous along a substantial part of the pivotal margin between door and panel, and resilient means fixedly secured to said panel engaging opposite sides of the door to yieldingly retain the same within the plane of the opening.

8. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an opening, a door of light-weight material hingedly secured to a portion of the margin of said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said hinge being continuous along a substantial part of the pivotal margin between door and panel, and spring members flxedly secured, respectively, to opposite sides of the panel at points removed from the margin of the opening, said members slidably engaging corresponding sides of the door, respectively, to yieldingly retain the door in the plane of the opening.

9. A closure for buildin wall opening comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion formed of at least two piles of material adhered to one another and surrounding an opening, a flexible, non-resilient hinge positioned between and adhered to the plies and projecting into said opening, a door of light-weight material for said opening similarly formed and gripping between its plies along a portion of its margin the projecting portion of said hinge, and resilient means fixedly secured to said panel engaging opposite sides of the door to yieldingly retain the same within the plane of the opening.

10. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion formed of at least two plies of material adhered to one another and surrounding an opening, a continuous, flexible, non-resilient hinge positioned between and adhered to the plies and projecting into said opening along a portion of its margin, a door of light-weight material for said opening similarly formed and gripping between its plies along a portion of its margin the prolecting portion of said hinge, and flat spring members fixedly secured, respectively, to opposite sides of the panel at points removed from th margin of the opening, said members slidably engaging corresponding sides of the door, respectively, to yieldingly retain the door in the plane of the opening,

11. A blackout member comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral portion surrounding an opening and a door normally closing said opening and lying in the plane thereof, said door being so associated with and secured to said panel as to permit substantially instantaneous opening thereof in either direction to permit dissipation of fluid pressure to which the panel may be exposed, resilient means carried by said panel engagin said door on each side thereof for yieldingly retaining the door in the plane of the panel, and a substantially opaque cover sheet secured over at least one face of said panel, said cover sheet having a predetermined tear strength.

12. A closure for building wall openings comprising a panel adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising a peripheral por-- tion formed of at least two plies of material adhered to one another and surrounding an opening, a continuous, flexible, non-resilient hinge positioned between and adhered to the plies and projecting into said opening along a portion of its margin, a door of light weight material for said opening similarly formed and gripping between its plies along a portion of its margin the projecting portion of said hinge, flat spring members fixedly secured, respectively, to opposite sides of the panel at points removed from the margin of the opening, said members slidably engaging corresponding sides of the door, respectively, to yieldingly retain the door in the plane of the opening, and a substantially opaque cover sheet secured over at least one face of said panel, said cover sheet having a predetermined tear strength.

WILBUR WRIGHT CASTOR.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTI ON. Patent No. 2,358,115. September 12, 19LLLL, WILBUR WRIGHT CASTOR.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 52, for "pight" read -light-; page 5, first column, line 55, for "panal" read -pane1--; page it, second column, line 514., claim 5, after "panel" strike out the comma and insert instead --adapted for use as a substitute for a window pane comprising aperipheral portion surrounding-a page 5, first column, line 7, claim 7, after "opening" strike out. "therein"; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correctiontherein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this lLLth day of November, A. D. 191m.

. Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

